Statement: President Obama's Address to Congress

President Obama understands that our economic recovery and our energy future are inextricably linked. By calling upon Congress to send him market-based global warming legislation, the President has clearly signaled that he understands the risks we face from unmitigated climate change. His talent for explaining tough problems and motivating us to work together to solve them is reason to feel incredibly positive about our ability to succeed in these critically important areas, despite the tough economic challenges we face.

This statement also appears in the National Journal's[1] annotated version of the President's address.

But to truly transform our economy, protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy. So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America. And to support that innovation, we will invest fifteen billion dollars a year to develop technologies like wind power and solar power; advanced biofuels, clean coal, and more fuel-efficient cars and trucks built right here in America.